Chapter 4
The transport door opened and cold air hit her face like a slap. Juni blinked against the brightness. The light from the two suns reflected off stone buildings, off windows, off the frozen ground of the colony square. Her boots hit packed earth with a crunch that sounded too loud.
People. So many people after the silence of Goraath’s ranch. They clustered in the square, pretending to be busy while their gazes tracked her every movement. A vendor arranging produce that didn’t need arranging and a group of colonists on the other side of the square whispered between themselves.
Her skin prickled. She’d been on display before, at corporate events, smiling through groping hands and propositions and being treated like eye candy. This wasn’t that. The looks held curiosity, but not entitlement. But, still, all those eyes made her shoulders tighten.
“Juni!”
She spun.
Aida stood outside a supply shop, grease already smudged on her cheek, grinning wide. Beside her, Finley clutched a datapad to her chest, and behind them—oh thank god, they were all here.
Goraath tensed beside her, that massive frame going still the way it did before a decision.
“Go.” His voice came out rough. “Spend time with them.”
She looked up at him, startled. His jaw worked, that muscle pulsing in the corner.
“I need supplies. One hour.” He turned toward a building on the far side of the square. “Meet back here.”
Then he walked away.
Just walked away, left her standing there in the middle of the colony square.
Holy shit.
Her feet moved before she decided to. She crossed the square and Aida’s arms wrapped around her in a bear hug.
“You made it! We were worried when we saw how far out your ranch is.”
“I’m fine.” The words came out cheerful. “It’s beautiful out there. Quiet.”
So much quiet.
Finley’s eyes narrowed behind her glasses.
“How’s your host?” Autumn’s voice stayed gentle, but her gaze tracked to where Goraath had disappeared into the supply building.
“He’s...”
What did she say? That he’d barely spoken to her? That he’d made it clear she was an unwanted invasion? That he’d caught her when she fell and she still felt the ghost of his hands around her waist? “Adjusting.”
Anja snorted. “That’s one word for it.”
“Come on.” Val’s hand settled on her shoulder, solid and grounding. “Let’s show you around. You’ve got an hour, right? Let’s make it count.”
They swept her through the colony center and for the first time since landing, she could actually breathe.
“Daax has been wonderful.” Aida bounced on her toes, energy radiating from every movement. “He’s showing me the whole engineering complex tomorrow. The tech here is fascinating… completely different approach to atmospheric processors than Earth uses.”
Of course Daax was wonderful.
“Kaael took me through the hydroponics facility.” Finley’s nervousness from the transport had been replaced by scientific excitement. “They’re growing latharian crops alongside native plants. The genetic modifications they’ve made to adapt wheat to the soil composition—”
“Thayn’s been so patient.” Autumn smiled. “He’s explained their medical practices, introduced me to everyone at the clinic.”
They all had stories. Good stories. Stories about hosts who actually wanted them. Who made an effort. Juni’s smile held through sheer will.
The other women guided her through the colony center. Past the communal dining hall where Autumn said everyone gathered for evening meals.
“They have a market here.” Anja gestured to the open area where vendors had set up stalls. “Every third day, the agricultural communities bring in produce and goods.”
A Latharian man looked up from arranging what looked like root vegetables. His amber eyes fixed on Juni.
“You’re the one assigned to Goraath.”
Not a question. She straightened her spine.
“I am.”
His weathered face creased into something that might have been sympathy. “Long way out there.”
“It’s beautiful.” She made her voice bright and confident. The same voice she’d used to smooth over executive tantrums and client complaints. “The mountains are stunning.”
“Mmm.” He studied her for a long moment, then selected one of the vegetables… purple-skinned, about the size of her fist. “Take this. Slice thin, pan-fry with oil. Goraath forgets to eat vegetables if someone doesn’t make him.”
He pressed it into her hands before she could refuse.
“Thank you.”
More vendors called them over as word spread.Another Latharian, old enough to be a grandfather, pressed a small cake into her hands. “For sweetness in your new home.”
A younger male offered her a scarf woven from local fiber. “The winds are harsh in the northern territory.”
Each gift came with looks… measuring, curious, but also kind so she didn’t mind. It was nice to feel accepted.
“Juniper Sutton.”
She turned to find the colony leader approaching. Kaalden was tall even for a Latharian. Behind him, there were three other Latharians who had to be council members based on their bearing and the official-looking badges on their jackets.
“Colony Leader.” She inclined her head, not sure of the correct greeting protocol.
“We did not have a chance for a proper welcome yesterday.” His Terran was heavily accented but clear. “The colony council wishes to acknowledge your arrival and express our gratitude for your participation in the program.”
“Thank you for having me.”
“The Midwinter Celebration is in three days.” Another latharian, younger than Kaalden but with the same type of authoritative presence, stepped forward.
“It is our most significant cultural celebration. The longest night of our year, when communities gather to share warmth and light against the darkness.”
Her heart leaped. A celebration. A real celebration with people and warmth and light.
“It sounds wonderful.”
“All are welcome.” Kaalden’s gaze moved past her, searching through the crowds. “Even those who live far from the center. There will be food, music, dancing, and the lighting of the eternal flame that burns until spring returns.”
Music. Dancing. Community.
Everything Christmas meant to her, even if it wore a different name.
“I’d love to attend.”
“Good.” Kaalden nodded once. “We look forward to seeing you there.”
They moved on, and she bit her lip in excitement. Three days. She had three days to convince Mr. Grumpy Rancher to bring her. Three days to—
“Shit. How much time do I have left?” She snagged Finley’s wrist to check her watch.
“Fifteen minutes.”
Her heart sank. The hour had flown. Part of her wanted to stretch it out, to linger here in this warmth and welcome. The other women would let her, she knew they would. They’d cover for her, make excuses, and give her more time here where she felt welcome if she told them why.
But Goraath had said an hour.
“I should head back.”
Val studied her face. “You don’t have to.”
“He gave me an hour. I have to get back.”
“The Midwinter Celebration.” Finley pressed her hand. “We’ll see you there?”
“I hope so.”
She hugged them all, holding onto each one as long she could without it being weird.
“Okay.” She said brightly. “I’d better get back to tall, and grumpy, before he comes looking for me.”
Goraath stood in the middle of the colony square, watching Juni disappear into the cluster of human women. Their arms wrapped around her, voices rising in excitement, and she melted into them like she’d known them her whole life.
He turned toward the supply depot, jaw tight. He needed to focus on what needed doing.
The depot sat squat and functional against the hillside, its metal doors scarred from years of transports backing too close.
Inside, rows of shelves stretched toward the ceiling, packed with everything a frontier colony needed to survive.
The familiar smell of machine oil and preserved food wrapped around him.
Grall looked up from behind the counter, his weathered face creasing into what passed for a smile. “Goraath. Didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“Need supplies.”
“For the female, eh?” Grall’s amber eyes held curiosity. “The other matches have been through already. That engineer, Daax, bought half my thermal blanket stock. Said his female was freezing.”
Thermal blankets. Draanth.
“Yeah, for the female,” he grunted and moved deeper into the store, snagging a supply cart as he went.
The list in his head grew with every step…
he needed a couple of new blankets. The house only had thin ones.
And heating coils for her room… the stone walls held cold like a trap, and humans didn’t run as hot as latharians.
Oh, and warmer clothing as well… Proper boots for the terrain.
He frowned. He should also pick up food that wasn’t just dried meat and root vegetables.
Everything he should have thought of before she arrived.
“How’s she settling in?” Grall followed him down the aisle, hands clasped behind his back. “She’s a pretty little thing.”
Goraath’s fingers bit into the package of heating coils he’d just picked up. “Fine.”
“Thayn’s female seems comfortable. Already helping at the clinic, from what I hear. And that tall one with the sharp features… she’s got half the colony scared and the other half in love.” Grall chuckled. “These females are something else.”
He grabbed three thermal blankets and threw them in the cart.
“Heard you voted against the program.”
His shoulders locked. Grall’s tone stayed neutral, but the weight behind the words was clear. Everyone knew. Everyone wondered why he’d entered the lottery if he hadn’t wanted the females here.
“I did.”
“Course you did.” Grall moved to another shelf, pulling down containers of preserved fruit. “But your place has the space, the resources. Makes sense.”
Sense. Right. His pulse kicked when she smiled—that made sense. Her scent wrapping around every surface in his house, sliding under his skin—that made perfect sense. The urge clawing through his gut to put himself between her and every male who looked too long—that also made sense as well.